Aylesham Halt
The gravitation of
coal miners from Wales to East Kent called for a new housing estate to be built
at Aylesham. In connection with this, the Southern Railway opened a station
nearby to serve it, allowing miners to commute to Snowdown colliery, this of
which had already received an adjacent halt at the beginning of World War I.
Aylesham Halt came into use on 1st July 1928, comprising two platforms which
were of prefabricated concrete construction, each host to a quaint timber
waiting shelter. Being a halt, no footbridge was provided, but electric lighting
here was present, supported by the SR’s favoured concrete lampposts. This was a
well used halt throughout the 1930s, which heralded the construction of more
permanent looking buildings in this decade. On both platforms, the timber
shelters were retained, but single-storey pitched-roof brick structures appeared
to the north of them, comprising a ticket office and additional waiting
accommodation. A track foot crossing was still maintained despite this.
Unsurprisingly, no goods facilities were available at this station, but for most
of the 1930s, there was a pair of private sidings in use.
Indeed, there was the inevitable change. The first modifications were to the
platforms in 1958: these were extended at their southern ends, utilising the
same type of prefabricated concrete as the original sections, to accept twelve
car electric formations. Despite receiving a faster service in either direction
in June 1959, it was bad news for the station thereafter. In 1968 all structures
were demolished and replaced by a dreary flat-roofed CLASP structure on the
‘’up’’ side, whilst waiting accommodation comprised glazed bus shelters. A
footbridge also appeared shortly afterwards, but even this was plain to the
point of ugliness.
Excepting the platforms, nothing of the original halt remains. The portacabin and footbridge
are both 1970s structures, whilst the bus shelters on the platforms date from the late 1980s,
having replaced similar abominations of 1970s-origin. This is a northward view from 12th
February 2005. David Glasspool
General Station Review
Originally opened: 1st July 1928
Level of originality: None. Current layout dates from the ''CLASP'' era of the late 1960s and 1970s.
General Condition: The station is looking somewhat dreary at the moment - a repaint or, even better, rebuild would be nice.
Railway Companies:
Southern Railway (1928 - 1947)
British Rail Southern Region (1948 - 1981)
London & SouthEast (1982 - 1986)
Network SouthEast (1986 - 1995)
Connex South Eastern (1996 - 2003)
South Eastern Trains (2004 - 2006)
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